(1) The legislature finds that many small employers struggle with the cost of providing employer-sponsored health insurance coverage to their employees, while others are unable to offer employer-sponsored health insurance due to its high cost. Low-wage workers also struggle with the burden of paying their share of the costs of employer-sponsored health insurance, while others turn down their employer's offer of coverage due to its costs.

     (2) The legislature intends, through establishment of a health insurance partnership program, to remove economic barriers to health insurance coverage for low-wage employees of small employers by building on the private sector health benefit plan system and encouraging employer and employee participation in employer-sponsored health benefit plan coverage.

[2007 c 260 § 1; 2006 c 255 § 1.]